There's nothing quite like a great movie to give you some much-needed escapism from the stresses of work, family, and everything else you're balancing. And if you’ve already run through the feel-good movies on Netflix or gobbled up our favorite book-to-film adaptations, you’re probably looking for something new. Luckily, there’s a slew of great movies out this season to freshen up your watch list.
We're rounding out our summers and looking ahead to fall with this list of the best movies coming soon. Below, you'll find a surprisingly buzzy new comedy about your favorite Looney Tunes character, a sequel to a film you loved in 1998, and a tense thriller based on one of Colleen Hoover's most popular novels. Plus, we're looking forward to a supernatural drama starring Olivia Colman as a fisherwoman who commissions a husband made of wicker (yeah, we're serious).
Best New Movies Out Now and Coming Soon: End of Summer and Fall 2026
Nimrods
When Tommy receives a phone call inviting his band to open for Green Day on New Year's Eve, he doesn't realize it's an elaborate prank by his older brother. Believing his life is about to change, Tommy steals a car so that he and his misfit friend can make the epic trek from Kansas City to Los Angeles.
Where to watch: Now playing in theaters.
Spa Weekend
The seemingly new film and TV genre that centers on fully grown women seeking fulfilling lives and enriching experiences is right up our alley. The latest in this category is Spa Weekend, a hilarious romp starring Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau, and Anna Faris as four lifelong friends attempting to escape their everyday burdens for a relaxing weekend together. What's nice about this particular script is that there's no singular star, so we get to see a little of each of their varying struggles and discoveries. There's no denying the high levels of comedic talent among the bunch, but it's a particular treat to watch Faris and Fisher play off each other in slightly unexpected ways. Come for the cast, stay for the laughs, and leave with an appreciation for what women face at all stages of life.
Release Date: August 21
Where to watch: In theaters
Coyote vs. Acme
In this live-action comedy, Acme products fail Wile E. Coyote one too many times, so he decides to hire a billboard lawyer to sue the Acme Corporation.
Release Date: August 28
Where to watch: In theaters
Buddy
If you're too excited to wait for Halloween, get an early taste of this year's horror samplings with this spooky film. Dressed as a unicorn, a beloved children's TV host reveals his true self as a dark and violent force of nature.
Release Date: August 28
Where to watch: In theaters
Finding Emily
When a lovesick musician is given the wrong number for his dream girl, he teams up with a psychology student to find her. Together, they spark a hilarious, campus-wide frenzy that tests their own hearts and ambitions along the way.
Release Date: August 28
Where to watch: In theaters
Hope
In this supernatural thriller, a police chief, a policewoman, and a group of hunters try to kill a mysterious creature that's laying waste to a Korean village. This sci-fi epic was written and directed by Na Hong-jin, an award-winning South Korean filmmaker.
Release Date: September 3
Where to watch: In theaters
Practical Magic 2
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman return as the stars of this highly anticipated sequel. In this romantic fantasy film, a multi-generational family of witches, cursed to be loveless for centuries, attempts to break the spell by confronting dark secrets.
Release Date: September 10
Where to watch: In theaters
The Weight
In Oregon in 1933, Samuel Murphy (Ethan Hawke) is torn from his daughter and sent to a brutal work camp. Warden Clancy (Russell Crowe) tempts him with early release if he smuggles gold through deadly wilderness, but betrayal festers within the crew, and Murphy questions how far he’ll go to see his child again.
Release Date: September 18
Where to watch: In theaters
Forgotten Island
In this family-friendly flick set in the 1990s, best friends Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to Nakali, a fantastical island that's filled with magical creatures. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, they try to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.
Release Date: September 25
Where to watch: In theaters
Verity
Hired to be a ghostwriter for renowned author Verity Crawford (Anne Hathaway), Lowen Ashleigh (Dakota Johnson) soon discovers chilling autobiographical notes. As she wrestles with disturbing and twisted confessions about Verity's husband (Josh Hartnett), she soon finds it hard to separate fiction from reality, manipulation from attraction, and opportunity from obsession.
Release Date: October 2
Where to watch: In theaters
Other Mommy
This psychological horror film stars Jessica Chastain as a mother who must do everything to protect her daughter from a supernatural entity that resembles her.
Release Date: October 9
Where to watch: In theaters
Wicker
When a basket maker (Peter Dinklage) constructs a wicker husband (Alexander Skarsgård) for a local fisherwoman (Olivia Colman), he proves more spectacular than she ever could have imagined. His soulful spirit and unique prowess soon awaken something inside her, setting off a wave of jealousy, fascination, and upheaval that threatens the very fabric of her village.
Release Date: October 23
Where to watch: In theaters
